Follow naturalist Brian Keating, head of the Calgary Zoo’s conservation outreach program, to the Arctic and Antarctic for an armchair eco-tour.

Keating’s eyewitness accounts of beluga whales, albatross, and king penguins (just to name a few species) are eye-opening. Unfamiliar words are defined throughout the 10 stories, and factual “notes” and sidebars anticipate a reader’s questions. The photographs (mostly taken by Keating and his wife, Dee) are an added treat.

The cover of the book was cool, but not very realistic. Since when do giant penguins stand behind a polar bear? The pictures on the front were amazing, but they could have been placed better. All I had to do, though, was read the title and my nose was already in the book.

I had lots of fun reading it. You learn lots of new words, like “estuary”. That means “the tidal mouth of a river where the tide meets the stream”. And how about “catabatic winds”? (A wind caused by the downward motion of cold air.) What I liked most about the book were the photos. They were awesome, and very detailed. They went right along with the topic the author was explaining.

The only thing I would change is the cover. Take the penguin picture that’s on page 28 and WOW — the cover would be fantastic! That picture has about a zillion king penguins all over the place as far as the eye can see!
Overall, I learned a lot of new stuff and the book was very good. Out of a score of 10, this book earns a 9.99. To describe the book in just one word — amazing.

(Originally published in the Sept/Oct 2005 issue of YES Mag.)